Insider: Pacers see Cory Joseph as ‘perfect fit’ for their culture shift

The Pacers and Toronto Raptors are engaged in trade talks for Cory Joseph. Here, he (6) drives for the basket around Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) during the second quarter in game six of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center.(Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)

INDIANAPOLIS — Kevin Pritchard wasn’t afraid to reveal how he felt about the Indiana Pacers acquiring Cory Joseph in a trade. The Pacers president said he didn’t care how or why he was able to engage in talks with the Toronto Raptors about Joseph — or the perception about how the trade came together.

Pritchard was just happy Joseph arrived at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday afternoon to be introduced as the newest Pacer.

“You want to have cap space, not because you can go out and sign a player, but because you have opportunities to take players that you’ve liked in the past,” Pritchard said in explaining the trade for Joseph, which become official Friday. “For us, it’s a perfect fit because he fits us culturally and his age is exactly what we’re looking for.”

Joseph, a 25-year-old point guard, is eager to play for the Pacers after he learned the teams were discussing a trade in early July. Joseph mentioned many of his new teammates — Myles Turner, Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Lance Stephenson — whom Pritchard has put together to be the core of the Pacers’ rebirth after he traded away Paul George.

The Pacers are capable of presenting Joseph an opportunity he has yet to have in his six-year career.

Joseph wants to prove that he can be a capable and winning starting point guard in the NBA. Darren Collison, an eight-year veteran, is expected to be the Pacers’ starter when training camp begins. But the second year of Collison’s two-year contract with the Pacers is only partially guaranteed. As the Pacers prepare for Joseph to enter the prime of his career, he understands next season could be his case for convincing Pritchard and coach Nate McMillan that he can be Indiana’s long-term solution at the position.

Joseph has improved his scoring average in every season. He averaged 9.3 points and 3.3 assists in 80 games last season with the Raptors. When Joseph had to replace an injured Kyle Lowry as Toronto’s starter last season, he averaged 12.2 points and five assists in 22 games.

“It definitely gives me confidence that I could start,” Joseph said of last season’s experience. “It terms of coming here, I just have an open mind and will do whatever it takes to help the team win, really. (Deciding who) starts is not my job. I go out there and play hard.”

Pritchard is less concerned about whether Joseph propels himself into the Pacers’ starting lineup. Pritchard believes Joseph can be successful with the Pacers because of his toughness, competitiveness and intelligence, all of which Pritchard said are essential traits to the team's new identity.

Pritchard said Joseph showed how important he was to the Raptors last season when coach Dwane Casey played him next to Lowry at the end of games. Pritchard then did further research on Joseph before agreeing to the trade. He reached out to San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, who coached Joseph from 2011-2015.

“The one thing he kept saying was, ‘He will bring it every day,’” Pritchard recalled of Popovich’s message about Joseph. “When I heard that, I knew Cory was going to be right for us.”

The Raptors traded Joseph and his $7.6 million contract for next season after re-signing Lowry to a three-year, $100 million contract. The Raptors are expected to give their backup point guard role to Delon Wright, a third-year player who is set to make $1.6 million next season.

Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) drives and passes between Myles Turner (33) and Paul George (13) in the second half of their Eastern Conference first round playoff game Thursday, April 21, 2016, evening at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Indiana Pacers lost to the Toronto Raptors 101-85.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

To acquire Joseph, the Pacers signed veteran forward C.J. Miles to a three-year, $25 million contract, then traded him to the Raptors along with the draft rights to Emir Preldzic, a 29-year-old Turkish forward.

“I knew this summer something had to happen,” Joseph said of the trade. “I wasn’t surprised. It’s a business. I haven’t touched the court yet, but hopefully I can have a better opportunity here.”

Pritchard knows the Pacers will have a one-year audition in trying to retain Joseph, who has a player option after this season. Joseph, similar to many players, is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent.

Pritchard said re-signing Joseph is an important part of his plan for the Pacers’ future.

“The great thing is we were able to obtain him and now we’ll start the relationship," Pritchard said. "We want to reset our culture. We want guys that are playing smart, playing hard and playing together. He does that. We’ll have the opportunity to early renegotiate as well. There’s options for that, but we want to start the relationship.”

McMillan is excited to see the competition between Joseph and Collison to see who gets more minutes. McMillan remembers how well Joseph performed in the playoffs against the Pacers two seasons ago. Joseph averaged 10.7 points in the seven games of the first-round series.

McMillan respects Joseph for being known as a pesky defender.

CLOSE

It's all about competition and being opportunistic, he says.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

“Defensively, he was a guy who would pick up his defense full court,” McMillan said. “I love that about him. He’s a two-way player.”

Although Joseph is considered young, the Pacers value the experience he has gained as a winner in the NBA. Joseph has yet to miss the postseason in his career and learned early under future Hall of Famers such as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Joseph was a contributor when the Spurs won the NBA championship in 2014 and helped the Raptors reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2016.

Joseph said he can apply and share plenty from what he learned in San Antonio and Toronto to help the Pacers be a successful team.

“Chemistry is a big factor in winning games,” Joseph said. “Everybody in the league can play. Everybody is talented. The right chemistry, the right mindset, the right team goals that everybody trusts and builds into says a lot. We have a young squad, yes, but everybody here is hungry. As long as we build that chemistry and have the same goals, we could do big things.”